Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)
Udupi, May 7: Forest minister Umesh Katti on Saturday, May 7, said an additional grant of Rs 2 crore will be sanctioned by the forest department for building the ‘Sri Vishwesha Theertha Smriti Vana’.
Speaking after laying the foundation stone for building the Smriti Vana in memory of Late Sri Vishwesha Theertha Swamiji, at Neelavara Goshala premises in Brahmavar taluk, Katti said the construction work of the Vana will be completed by February 2023.
He said the government has already sanctioned Rs 2 crore for the construction work adding that the additional grant will be sanctioned once the work gets completed.
The minister said the forest department will take measures to control the monkey menace in the agriculture field after discussing the issue with department officials. Minister Katti urged the members of the public to take benefit from the deemed forest area development.
In his address, Sri Vishwaprasanna Theertha Swamiji, Pejawar Math said, “Let everyone join hands to protect our environment.”
He urged the citizens to reduce the use of implements that release Carbon into the atmosphere and also plant more tree saplings for a cleaner environment. The seer urged the minister to take stern steps to control the money menace and to ensure that adequate and separate food arrangements are made for monkeys to stay away from agricultural lands.
In his presidential address, MLA Raghupati Bhat said that Smriti Vana will be developed as a rare plantation area without causing any damage to the existing plants in the Neelavara. He also said that a museum will be built in the area that will depict the life of Late Vishwesha Theertha and arrange for the study of philosophy.
Union minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shobha Karandlaje, S Angara, district in-charge minister, Kota Srinivas Poojary, Social Welfare and Backward Classes welfare department, Mattaru Ratnakar Hegde, president, Coastal Department Authority, Kurma Rao, deputy commissioner, Ananth Hegde Ashisara, president, Karnataka Vruksha Laksha Andolana , Prakash S Netalkar, chief forest conservator Mangaluru circle, Ashish Reddy, DFO Kundapur division, Dr Dinesh Kumar, DFO, Mahendra Kumar, president, Neelavara gram panchayat, Brijesh Kumar, Rajshekhar, tahsildar Brahmavar taluk, and others were present on the occasion.
Clifford Lobo, assistant forest conservative officer, welcomed the gathering and Vasudeva Bhat compered the programme.